Introduction to physical theatre
Theatre is not just about conveying the written text; rather that through the body, by trying to find a simple language of gestures and sounds, we can communicate at a much more powerful level; that there is a universal language for the theatre, regardless of cultural differences.
There is a recognition that if you want ‘realistic drama’, television and cinema are far more effective than theatre. What is unique about theatre is its relationship to its audience: the fact that actor and audience share the same time and space in a ‘live’ experience. It is basically a physical experience in which the actor stimulates the active imagination of the audience.
An Introduction to the thinking behind Physical Theatre
First of all the characteristics of physical theatre are many and varied; in fact, the term is virtually impossible to define. However, the emergence of physical theatre over the past fifteen or twenty years clearly represents a significant change in the nature of acting in response to a shift away from text-based theatre and the Stanislavskian notion of interpreting a role. Increasingly companies, not only in the way they devise their own work, but also in the way they train and work are now focused on exploring and expressing their ideas principally through the body.
So what is physical theatre?
Physical theatre is a general term used to describe any mode of performance that pursues storytelling through primarily physical means. There are several quite distinct traditions of performance which all describe themselves using the term "physical theatre", which has led to a lot of confusion as to what the definition of physical theatre actually is.
A simple definition (to be expanded/revised/thrown out/begun again): Physical theatre: goes beyond verbal narrative, incorporating physical and visual elements on a level at least equal to verbal elements is more than simply abstract movement – it includes some element of character, narrative,
There is a recognition that if you want ‘realistic drama’, television and cinema are far more effective than theatre. What is unique about theatre is its relationship to its audience: the fact that actor and audience share the same time and space in a ‘live’ experience. It is basically a physical experience in which the actor stimulates the active imagination of the audience.
An Introduction to the thinking behind Physical Theatre
First of all the characteristics of physical theatre are many and varied; in fact, the term is virtually impossible to define. However, the emergence of physical theatre over the past fifteen or twenty years clearly represents a significant change in the nature of acting in response to a shift away from text-based theatre and the Stanislavskian notion of interpreting a role. Increasingly companies, not only in the way they devise their own work, but also in the way they train and work are now focused on exploring and expressing their ideas principally through the body.
So what is physical theatre?
Physical theatre is a general term used to describe any mode of performance that pursues storytelling through primarily physical means. There are several quite distinct traditions of performance which all describe themselves using the term "physical theatre", which has led to a lot of confusion as to what the definition of physical theatre actually is.
A simple definition (to be expanded/revised/thrown out/begun again): Physical theatre: goes beyond verbal narrative, incorporating physical and visual elements on a level at least equal to verbal elements is more than simply abstract movement – it includes some element of character, narrative,